Experimental consideration of the Hansen solubility parameters of as-produced multi-walled carbon nanotubes by inverse gas chromatographyElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4cp02319f

The Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) of as-produced multi-walled carbon nanotubes (APMWCNTs) were determined by means of the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique. Due to non-homogeneous surfaces of the APMWCNTs arising from defects and impurities, it was necessary to establish adequate working conditions for determining the HSPs of the CNTs. We then obtained the HSPs of the APMWCNTs and compared these results with earlier reports as determined by using sedimentation and molecular dynamics simulation methods. It was found that the determination of the HSPs of the CNTs by IGC can give an enhanced determination range based on the adsorption thermodynamic parameters, compared to the HSPs determined using sedimentation methods. And the HSPs of the APMWCNTs, determined here, provided good guidelines for the selection of feasible solvents that can improve the dispersion of the APMWCNTs. HSPs of the APMWCNTs were determined by the IGC method. They provided forecasting of dispersibility of APMWCNT colloidal solutions and good guidelines for the selection of feasible solvents.